The programme aims to provide you with:
- Knowledge and understanding of the main areas of psychology, including their historic and scientific development, conceptualisation and explanation of psychological thinking, functioning and behaviour and relevance to contemporary issues.
- The development of knowledge and understanding of the application of psychology to specialist areas within the discipline.
- The development of appropriate research methods, research skills and ethical considerations required within psychology research and their application to your dissertation.
- The ability to think critically and creatively about theoretical, empirical and applied issues in psychology and their inter-relationships.
- Active learning and transferable skills that are appropriate for a psychology graduate.
- The ability to meet the standards set by the British Psychological Society for eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
Studying psychology with Birmingham City University also gives you the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of specialist departments within the Division of Psychology.
In particular, we have long-established expertise within:
- Counselling Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Organisational Psychology
All of these areas are chartered areas in psychology. We also specialise in non-chartered areas.
The University has also been awarded the teaching of higher excellence where these high standards are seen within the classroom itself.
You’ll be supported by specialist facilities such as psychology computer teaching laboratories, an E-Prime psychology laboratory, individual E-Prime laboratories and a counselling suite. Computers in the psychology laboratories are supported by E-Prime (E-Prime and individual laboratories), editing and research packages. Other supporting equipment - such as a two way mirror - also support psychology experiments. All these facilities are maintained by a dedicated technician.
Our facilities are supported by state-of-the art software ranging from a new editing suite, feedback (audio and visual) cameras/equipment, and software such as E-Prime, SPSS, Pinnacle Studio and NVIVO.
To tailor your degree you will be able to choose optional modules within the areas of:
- Health Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Organisational Psychology
- Occupational and Workplace Psychology
- Community Psychology
- Popular Images and Psychological Understanding
- Coaching Psychology
- Counselling Psychology
- Human Computer Interaction
In your final year you will carry out independent study into an area of psychology of your choice, this is of particular benefit if you wish to go onto further specialist postgraduate study. Staff on the course will each be specialists within one of the particular branch areas and will have links with chartered branch psychology divisions.
Staff will also be happy to facilitate students who wish to gain some work experience in addition to the taught programme. Current students have been involved in work settings such as psychology research (in both participatory and data collection roles), shadowing Clinical and Educational Psychologists and health related areas of work.
Throughout your studies you will also have a personal tutor who will help you to keep your psychology e-portfolio updated. The e-portfolio will demonstrate how you have met the core areas of GBC (providing that you obtain a 2:2 or above), as well as completing a C.V. that is tailored for your career following graduation.
Throughout the programme, there is continual emphasis placed on both chartered and non-chartered areas in psychology that are available to psychology graduates as well continual professional development for training professional psychologists.
Core modules on this programme are based on the GBC psychology areas recommended by the BPS. Areas on which these modules will be based are:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Biological Psychology
- Research Methods Quantitative
- Research Methods Qualitative
- Social Psychology
- Individual Differences
- Developmental Psychology
- Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology
- Empirical Work
Other areas represented as core modules are:
- Psychopathology and Abnormal Psychology
- Origins in Psychology
- Contemporary Issues and Psychology
- Emerging Debates in Psychology
There is also a strong emphasis on skills that enhance the employability of psychology undergraduates, as represented by the Personal Development Planning in Psychology modules.
As an option, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore both chartered and non-chartered areas in Psychology and Applied Psychology during levels 5 and 6. Examples of these modules are:
Chartered
- Health Psychology
- Counselling Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Occupational Psychology
Applied Areas of Psychology
- Coaching Psychology
- Human Computer Interaction
- Cultural Psychology
- Popular Images and Psychological Understanding
Assessment is through a variety of methods including exams, psychology laboratory reports, empirical work, journal critique essay, reflective work and poster presentation.